Government claims Renters’ Rights Act cracks down on rental discrimination

The government claims the Renters’ Rights Act addresses overt discriminatory practices used by landlords and letting agents.

In a written parliamentary answer, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the act gives councils strong enforcement powers to tackle rental discrimination.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, it is illegal for landlords and letting agents to discriminate against prospective tenants who receive benefits or have children, with fines of up to £7,000 for those who break the rules.

Bear down on rental discrimination in PRS

In a written parliamentary question, Labour MP Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, asked: “What recent steps has the government taken to ensure compliance with the (a) Equality Act 2010 and (b) Renters’ Rights Act within the rented housing sector”.

Mr Pennycook said: “The Renters’ Rights Act provides local authorities with strong investigatory and enforcement powers to bear down on rental discrimination practices in the private rented sector.

“It addresses both overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘No DSS’ adverts, and situations where landlords or letting agents use other indirect practices in order to prevent someone entering into a tenancy.

“The government is increasing ring-fenced civil penalties to support a ‘polluter pays’ approach to enforcement of the new tenancy system.”

He added: “In accordance with the New Burdens Doctrine, we will ensure additional net costs on local authorities resulting from the Act are fully funded. To that end, my Department is providing £41.12 million to local housing authorities for this financial year to help them undertake their new enforcement responsibilities. This funding is in addition to the £18.2 million provided in 2025/26.

“Our aim over the long term is to establish a sustainable funding system for private rented sector enforcement based on future Private Rented Sector Database fee revenues.”

Certain circumstances of rental discrimination

Under the guidance, the government list certain circumstances of rental discrimination including:

Landlords will not be able to stop someone doing any of the following because they have children or get benefits (or you think they do):

• accessing information about the property
• viewing a property
• renting a property

Accessing information  

Information could include:

• the availability of the property
• the date it becomes vacant
• details of the property, such as the size, location or number of bedrooms

Viewing a property 

This will include refusing to let someone view the property or knowingly making it difficult for them to view it, such as by offering unreasonable times.

Renting a property 

This will include poor treatment to make it less likely for someone to want to rent the property, for example, a rental agreement that puts the tenant at a disadvantage.